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Limited evidenceSleep & relaxation

Mulungu

A Brazilian bark (Erythrina mulungu/verna) sold as a natural anxiolytic and sleep aid, but the only two human trials are in dental surgery patients and the larger, better-designed one found it no better than placebo. Interesting alkaloid pharmacology, essentially no clinical support.

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What the science says

  • Reduces situational anxiety Limited evidence

    The best trial randomized 200 patients to Passiflora incarnata 500 mg, Erythrina mulungu 500 mg, midazolam 15 mg, or placebo 60 minutes before third-molar extraction: Passiflora matched midazolam, while mulungu was explicitly reported as unable to control anxiety and did not separate from placebo. An earlier 30-person crossover using the same 500 mg dose found only that patients subjectively preferred the mulungu period, with no difference in blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen saturation.

  • Improves sleep Limited evidence

    There are no human sleep trials of mulungu at any dose — no polysomnography, no actigraphy, not even a validated sleep questionnaire. The sleep claim is extrapolated from sedative-like behavior in rodents and from the plant's traditional use as a calming tea.

  • Anticonvulsant and muscle-relaxant activity Limited evidence

    Isolated Erythrina alkaloids (erythravine, 11-alpha-hydroxyerythravine, erythrartine) block nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and raise seizure threshold in mouse models at 3-30 mg/kg. This is real pharmacology, but it is also the basis of the safety concern — these are structurally curare-like compounds, and none has been dosed in humans.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseBoth published human trials used a single 500 mg dose of dried bark extract taken 60 minutes before the stressful event. Traditional preparation is a decoction of roughly 1-3 g of dried bark, once to three times daily. No chronic dosing schedule has been tested in humans, and commercial capsules (300-1000 mg) are rarely standardized to any marker alkaloid.
SafetyShort-term single doses were well tolerated in both dental trials, with no change in blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen saturation. The theoretical concern is real: erythrina alkaloids are nicotinic receptor antagonists related to curare and produce neuromuscular blockade in animals at high doses, so avoid stacking with other sedatives, alcohol, benzodiazepines, or antihypertensives. Traditional use as an abortifacient plus a complete absence of reproductive data means it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding. No study has followed anyone taking mulungu for more than a few weeks, so nothing is known about liver effects or dependence.

How to take it

TimingAbout 60 minutes before the stressful event — this was tested as a single situational dose, not a daily one.
With food?Either way.
Worth knowingNobody has studied mulungu beyond a few weeks, so treat it as occasional-use rather than a nightly habit.

Interactions

With medications

  • benzodiazepines, opioids and alcohol

    Additive sedation. do not combine

  • antihypertensive medication

    Additive blood-pressure lowering. avoid stacking, and stand up slowly

  • neuromuscular blocking agents used in anaesthesia

    Erythrina alkaloids are curare-related nicotinic antagonists and produce neuromuscular blockade in animals. tell your anaesthetist and stop well before any planned surgery

With other supplements

  • valerian, kava and other sedating supplements

    Additive sedation. do not stack sedatives

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does mulungu work for anxiety?

Mulungu has not been shown to reduce anxiety (limited evidence): in the best trial, 200 dental surgery patients took mulungu 500 mg, passionflower, midazolam or placebo, and mulungu did not separate from placebo. An earlier 30-person study found only that patients subjectively preferred the mulungu period.

Is mulungu good for sleep?

There are no human sleep trials of mulungu at any dose, not even with a validated sleep questionnaire (limited evidence). The sleep claim is extrapolated from sedative-like behaviour in rodents and from its traditional use as a calming tea.

How much mulungu should I take?

Both human trials of mulungu used a single 500 mg dose of bark extract taken 60 minutes before a stressful event; no chronic dosing schedule has been tested. Nobody has studied mulungu beyond a few weeks, so treat it as occasional rather than nightly use.

Is mulungu safe to combine with sedatives or before surgery?

Mulungu should not be combined with benzodiazepines, opioids, alcohol or other sedating supplements because of additive sedation. Its alkaloids are curare-related and produce neuromuscular blockade in animals, so tell your anaesthetist and stop well before any planned surgery.

Scientific references

Where to buy

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